Dave Routledge

Monday, July 03, 2006

FAREWELL FRED: THE FINEST FAST BOWLER EVER TO DRAW BREATH. 1931-2006.

Fredrick Sewards Trueman, the greatest fast bowler in the history of test cricket, died of cancer on Saturday. Cricket is a love of mine, which, up until now, I have not blogged about. Over the next few days I am going to put that right.

I shed a tear on Saturday, a genuine tear; for someone who I never met, never knew and furthermore, never in the flesh saw play, the most beautiful and civilised game that God has provided man the ingredients to devise.

He was fiercely proud to have played for his country, and when he did, he gave every ounce he had. It seems ironic that such a man should die on the same day that another England team, payed thousands of pounds to do so, gave such a lack lustre and ill-disciplined performance,even being incapable of putting the ball in the back of the net from twelve yards. Fred managed to remove 300 batsmen in only 67 test matches, from twenty two yards.

I think the above picture of his graceful action speaks for itself. He was the finest exponent of a beloved game; he was also a fellow Yorkshireman. I hope that somwhere along the road he acknowledged Jesus as his saviour and is now in paradise.